How to Set Up an AED Program

The Sudden Cardiac Arrest Association is committed to broadening public access to defibrillation. Numerous scientific studies conducted during the past two decades have proven that rapid defibrillation is the single most important factor affecting survival from sudden cardiac arrest in adults. This research, coupled with important technological advances, has driven an international movement to increase access to early defibrillation. In this section, SCAA highlights important information for identifying your community's needs and implementing a successful community AED program.

This information can also be helpful for businesses, schools, seqvice organizations and others seeking to establish AEDs placement and CPR/AED training programs in schools, sports centers, office buildings, shopping centers, residential communities and other venues.

Links to examples of successful community programs are also provided.

ON-SITE AED PROGRAMS

Even if a community has done everything possible to strengthen its chain of survival, the success of a community defibrillation program can be limited. For example, if you live in rural area and EMS has long distances to cover, or an urban area, where EMS has to contend with traffic and high-rise buildings, the time to first shock may be delayed. This is why many locations -- such as airports, office complexes, residential communities, shopping centers, sports stadiums and schools -- have established on-site defibrillation programs to place AEDs and to train staff and volunteers in CPR and AED use.

When sudden cardiac arrest occurs outside the hospital, it occurs most often in the home. For this reason, some families of at-risk individuals have elected to place AEDs in their homes and to be trained in CPR and AED use. As research continues in this area and AEDs become more readily available for home use, it is possible that home placement of AEDs will increase significantly.

DETERMINE THE NEED

Saving lives takes a team effort. And, it takes consideration of a number of factors that will help determine the type of AED program your community needs, including the size and location of your community - large city, small suburb, and rural community. Evaluation of the current emergency response system is important to assess how prepared your community currently is to handle sudden cardiac arrest. Checking with your local government is also important as laws and requirements vary. Once you determine your community's needs, then you can identify areas for improvement: greater public awareness, more public and professional training, wider placement of AEDs.

Based on the chain of survival approach, the following questions can help your community assess areas of focus and need:

Early Access

Does your community have Enhanced 9-1-1 coverage?

Does the public know how to recognize a cardiac emergency?

Does the public know to call 9-1-1 (or the local emergency number) immediately in the event of an apparent cardiac emergency

Early CPR

Are emergency dispatchers trained to give callers instructions in CPR?

Is most of the teen and adult population trained in CPR?

Emergency Defibrillation

Do state laws and regulations permit first-arriving emergency personnel and trained laypersons to use defibrillators?

Are all first-responding emergency personnel equipped with defibrillators?

Are these personnel trained to deliver the first shock within 60 seconds of their arrival (if response time is greater than five minutes)?

Is the average "call-to shock" time five minutes or less in at least 90 percent of cases?

Early advanced care

Does your community have paramedics or emergency physicians prepared to provide early advanced care?

If you can answer "yes" to each of these questions, the chances for SCA survival in your community are strong. If any answer is "no", the chances for SCA survival are greatly diminished.

KEY COMMUNITY PROGRAM COMPONENTS

Once you have identified your community's needs, developing an on-site Public Access Defibrillation program involves consideration of four major components -- personnel, equipment, emergency response plan, and ongoing quality improvement.The following check list provides essential elements to consider for your program.

Personnel

Identify program coordinator.

Identify a group of responders and train in CPR and AED use.

Enlist a medical consultant (consider local EMS).

Equipment

Select AED appropriate for venue amd users.

Determine most accessible location for 24 hour availability.

Check AED present and in "ready" mode daily.

Replace pads and batteries as needed (expire about every two years).

Response plan

Develop an emergency response plan (ERP) including activation of on-site responders and call to 911.

The Sudden Cardiac Arrest Association (SCAA) is deeply committed to preventing loss of life due to sudden cardiac arrest. For this reason, SCAA has taken a leadership role and joined forces with other professional and patient organizations that share this commitment and have unified to form the Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) Coalition. By leveraging the passion and resources from its member organizations, the SCA Coalition aims to prevent sudden cardiac arrest deaths through legislative initiatives that lead to greater public awareness, research and access to life-saving therapies.